Gauhati High Court Denies Pre-Arrest Relief to Pawan Khera in Passport Row
The Pawan Khera anticipatory bail plea rejected by Gauhati High Court case saw a major legal development on Friday. The court denied pre-arrest relief to the Congress leader in the Assam Police FIR linked to the passport row.
A bench led by Justice Parthivjyoti Saikia delivered the order after hearing both sides extensively on April 21. Meanwhile, the court had reserved its decision earlier this week, and the detailed order is still awaited.
The FIR arose from a complaint filed by Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, wife of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. The complaint followed allegations made by Khera regarding multiple passports. Further, the case includes provisions related to cheating, forgery, and defamation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
During the hearing, senior counsel for Khera argued that the case reflected political vendetta. He also submitted that Khera was not a flight risk. However, the State strongly opposed the plea and pressed for denial of bail.
The prosecution maintained that “this is not a simple defamation case” and argued that the allegations involve cheating and forgery. The court then rejected the anticipatory bail plea.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had stayed the transit anticipatory bail granted by the Telangana High Court. It also directed Khera to seek relief from the competent court in Assam.
Therefore, the Pawan Khera anticipatory bail plea rejected by Gauhati High Court decision marks a major legal setback for the Congress leader. Additionally, the order adds fresh political significance to the ongoing passport row in Assam.
The case is likely to remain under close public and political scrutiny in the coming days. Moreover, the detailed order from the Gauhati High Court may provide further clarity on the court’s reasoning, especially on the allegations of cheating, forgery, and the scope of custodial investigation.
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FAQs
Anticipatory bail is a legal protection granted by a court that allows a person to seek pre-arrest bail when they apprehend arrest in a criminal case.
The Gauhati High Court held that the matter went beyond simple defamation and found a prima facie case involving forgery and related offences, observing that custodial interrogation was necessary.
After the Gauhati High Court rejected his plea, Pawan Khera approached the Supreme Court challenging the order and seeking relief from arrest.
